The COVID-19 vaccine may feel like a cure that has been a long time coming, but in actuality, the timing is remarkable. The methods behind the vaccine’s development is a culmination of recent scientific progress, a synthesis of recent protocols and breakthroughs within medicine. As distribution qualifications widen, a larger proportion of the population has access to the vaccine. The increased availability of the vaccine and the newly acquired immunity of at-risk demographics has drastically improved generale morale.
I am lucky. I work part-time in a laboratory, which allowed me to qualify for an early vaccine. My manager greatly encouraged all of us to sign up as soon as we were able, and before I knew it, I was driving to my appointment. It felt somewhat surreal, and to me, the sensation was akin to exhaling after a very, very long held breath.
I think everyone was—or is—scared, to a degree. People were scared of becoming sick, scared of their loved ones becoming vulnerable, and scared that the world was changing so rapidly due to a disease. Before the vaccine, the cure for the pandemic was not concrete. Of course, there were projections of when one would be developed, how long it would take to distribute, but none of those estimations would be solid until distribution actually began. Now, getting sick is not an unknown, it is not a hope-for-the-best scenario. There is a preventative cure that has been made and is available.
When I got to the testing site, which in my case was a gymnasium at Lake Michigan College, I was amazed at the extensive line of humans who were cycling through at a rapid pace. It was certainly a very efficient system, designed to get individuals vaccinated as quickly as possible while still observing social distancing guidelines. I was given a questionnaire and my forms to fill in while still remaining in my car, then joined the line which had social distancing dots. The actual time it took for me to get vaccinated was around 10 minutes, while I spent another 15 minutes at a waiting area in order to ensure that no adverse side effects occurred, as the majority of symptoms appear within this time frame.
I am trying to ingrain the experience into my memory. There are a select few things that I have seen that I am sure will be written about, talked about, and remembered that I have lived through, and I am sure this, the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccinations, is one of them. On one hand, we have all gotten vaccines. The experience is not new. But the palpable energy, the current of excitement, hordes of people chatting, laughing, seeming hopeful, that was new.
As a biology major, I am especially thrilled. It is, genuinely, a wonder. The development of the vaccine is astounding, and the fact that there are two major distributors, Moderna and Pfizer, shows humanity working in tandem. Nonetheless, there are many who are still scared, however, their apprehension lies with the vaccine instead of the disease. I think we all know a few people who are scared, and I do believe that it is a moral responsibility to spread correct information. There are individuals within my own family who fall under that category, and I try to see their vocal apprehension as precaution instead.
This is my analogy for how the vaccine works, one that I have firstly used with my little brothers and how I have explained it to those certain members of my family. Imagine that there is a dangerous person wearing a purple hat. The vaccine, essentially, teaches your body to quickly spot the “purple hat,” and teaches it how to fight against the threat, by creating antibodies. Therefore, the vaccine actually does not put the COVID-19 virus inside an individual, but rather, creates a spike protein that allows for identification. This minimizes risk while creating the necessary antibodies. This is an analogy, and a quick synopsis, that has helped me explain the vaccine to others; however, I encourage everyone to read up on the mechanics of the vaccine to help educate and inform those who may be hesitant on taking it.
The vaccine is rapidly becoming available to all demographics, and I greatly advocate for those who meet the requirements to get vaccinated as soon as they can. Meanwhile, we should all do our part by informing others about what we can understand, and that can start with those closest to us.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.